The findings reveal that 88% of tradespeople consider digital and software tools necessary for successful operation, with 89% using them to help with day-to-day business operations.

Of these, 39% use them to save time on admin for business growth, 36% to compensate for shortfalls in skilled workers, and 34% to strike a better work-life balance or spend more time on their trade.

The rising cost of supplies emerged as the number one challenge, named by 29% of respondents, and was particularly significant for one-person and micro businesses of less than five people.

Roofing company ZafBuild points to using the ToolTime business management platform to grow profit by 20%.

Meanwhile, the home emergency services business Generational Homes reports savings of four to six hours every day, which helps them complete an additional 20-25 jobs every week and bring in additional revenue.

Social media, messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, mobile apps for time tracking, job sheets, and scheduling were the top three digital tools the 1,000 tradespeople surveyed named.

Their utilisation reflects some of the other critical challenges identified by UK trades, such as managing time and jobs (23%), managing a team (22%), keeping up with customer communications (21%), talent and skilled worker shortages (21%) and marketing the business (20%).

20% of tradespeople use job management or field service management software, with 37% seeing the most significant benefit as better oversight of business operations. 36% consider time savings or better customer communications the most considerable advantage, while 32% cite business growth potential.

34% would choose it to create a more professional image for those trade businesses not yet using job management software. In comparison, 33% would look for better business oversight and 29% for business growth.